Backlinks are a critical factor in SEO, acting as endorsements from other websites that signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable. For websites to rank well on Google, they need a strong backlink profile. But managing and monitoring your backlinks is just as important as acquiring them. This is where a backlink checker comes in handy.
A backlink checker allows you to monitor the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to your website, helping you understand how your website is performing in terms of SEO. While premium tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush provide in-depth backlink analysis, there are also excellent free backlink checker tools available that can give you essential insights without the need for a subscription.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best free backlink checker tools, their features, how they work, and how they can help you improve your website's SEO strategy.
What is a Backlink Checker?
A backlink checker is an SEO tool that helps you track and analyze the backlinks pointing to your website. By providing valuable data on the number of backlinks, referring domains, anchor text, link quality, and more, a backlink checker gives you the insights you need to manage your backlink strategy effectively.
Backlinks play a significant role in SEO because they act as "votes" from other websites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and authoritative. A strong backlink profile can greatly improve your chances of ranking higher on search engines, while low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your SEO efforts.
Using a backlink checker helps you:
Track and monitor the health of your backlink profile
Identify toxic or spammy backlinks that may be harmful
Discover backlink opportunities by analyzing competitors
Assess the quality of your backlink sources
While many backlink checkers are paid tools, several free options can still provide essential information to help you improve your SEO performance.
Why Use a Free Backlink Checker?
While premium backlink checkers offer more in-depth analysis, free backlink checkers still provide a solid foundation for tracking your backlinks. Here’s why you should consider using a free backlink checker:
Cost-Effective: If you’re just starting out with SEO or have a small website, free tools can offer essential backlink data without the need to invest in expensive tools.
Quick Backlink Insights: Free backlink checkers give you quick, easy access to basic backlink information. You can use them to get an overview of your backlink profile.
Competitor Analysis: Even with free tools, you can still perform competitor analysis to uncover backlink opportunities that could improve your SEO.
Track Progress: You can monitor your backlink profile over time and see how your link-building efforts are paying off.
Easy to Use: Free tools are often more user-friendly, making them ideal for beginners who are new to SEO.
Top Free Backlink Checker Tools
Here are some of the best free backlink checker tools that can help you monitor and analyze your backlinks:
1. Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is a must-have tool for website owners and SEO professionals. It provides insights directly from Google, including detailed backlink data, and is completely free to use.
Key Features:
See the total number of backlinks pointing to your website.
View the most linked-to pages on your website.
Check the anchor text used in your backlinks.
Track referring domains (the websites that link back to you).
Pros:
Free tool provided directly by Google.
Helps you understand how Google views your backlinks.
Provides accurate data on backlinks, including internal and external links.
Cons:
Does not offer in-depth backlink analysis or competitor insights.
Lacks some advanced features of premium tools.
Best for: Website owners and beginners who want to see basic backlink data directly from Google.
2. Ubersuggest Backlink Checker
Developed by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is an all-in-one SEO tool that includes a backlink checker. While Ubersuggest has both
free seo backlink checker and paid plans, the free version still offers valuable insights into your backlinks.
Key Features:
Displays the total number of backlinks and referring domains.
Provides data on do-follow and no-follow links.
Shows anchor text distribution.
Allows competitor backlink analysis (limited in free version).
Pros:
Simple and
easy-to-use interface.
Free version includes essential backlink insights.
Allows you to track backlinks and referring domains.
Provides an overview of your domain’s backlink health.
Cons:
The free version limits the number of daily searches.
Advanced features require a paid plan.
Best for: Beginners or small business owners who need basic backlink data and competitor analysis.
3. Small SEO Tools Backlink Checker
Small SEO Tools is a free SEO suite that includes a backlink checker among its offerings. It’s a quick and easy way to get a snapshot of your backlink profile.
Key Features:
Displays the number of backlinks and referring domains.
Provides data on do-follow and no-follow backlinks.
Offers the option to check up to 5 URLs per day.
Allows you to see the anchor text associated with each backlink.
Pros:
Completely free and requires no sign-up.
Easy-to-use and fast results.
No limits on the number of backlinks checked (only limited to 5 URLs per day).
Cons:
Lacks in-depth backlink analysis or competitor insights.
Limited functionality compared to premium tools.
Best for: Users who need a quick and simple backlink check without advanced features.
4. Ahrefs Backlink Checker (Free & Paid)
Ahrefs is a leading SEO tool that is known for its comprehensive backlink analysis. Although Ahrefs is primarily a paid tool, it does offer a free version that allows you to check some basic backlink data.
Key Features (Free Version):
Displays the total number of backlinks pointing to your website.
Provides referring domains and their authority.
Shows anchor text used in backlinks.
Pros:
One of the most accurate backlink databases in the industry.
Free version still offers valuable backlink insights.
Reliable and trusted by SEO professionals.
Cons:
Free version is limited to checking only a few backlinks.
Full access to Ahrefs’
features requires a paid subscription.
Best for: SEO professionals or businesses that want reliable backlink data with the option to upgrade for more features.
5. Moz Link Explorer (Free & Paid)
Moz Link Explorer is another well-known tool in the SEO community that allows users to check their backlinks. The free version of Moz Link Explorer offers limited data but still provides valuable insights.
Key Features (Free Version):
Displays the total number of backlinks and referring domains.
Shows the Page Authority (PA) and Domain Authority (DA) of linking domains.
Provides basic anchor text analysis.
Pros:
Trusted by many SEO professionals.
Free version provides up to 10 searches per month.
Offers useful data on backlink quality, including DA and PA scores.
Cons:
Free version has limited queries (10 per month).
Advanced features require a premium subscription.
Best for: Website owners or small businesses looking for basic backlink insights with a focus on domain authority.
6. SEO PowerSuite Backlink Checker (Free & Paid)
SEO PowerSuite is a suite of SEO tools that includes a powerful backlink checker. The free version of SEO PowerSuite provides access to essential backlink data, while the paid version unlocks more advanced features.
Key Features (Free Version):
Displays the total number of backlinks pointing to your website.
Provides referring domains and link quality data.